120 Manual of Equitation and Horse Training 



I. — Acclimation. 



Put under observation. Installed in the troop. Care 

 on arrival. Particular hygiene. Air. Rations and substi- 

 tutions. Endurance and hardiness. 



II. — Taming. 



Assignment of the same horses to the same riders. 

 Choice of riders. Familiarizing the colt with the life of 

 the garrison (noise, watering, shoeing shop, etc.). 



III. — Establishing confidence. 



Out of doors and riding hall. Proportions in which 

 they should be employed. Work not mounted. Leading 

 by the side of old horses which are mounted. Work on the 

 longe. Accustoming the equipment, weight of man, mount- 

 ing lesson. Saber. 



Mounted work. Walks out of doors. Organization of 

 squads. Nature of the work. R61e of the walk in strength- 

 ening the joints. Familiarizing with out-door objects. In- 

 fluence of leaders. 



second period. 



(Jan. 1 to Mar 1, two months.) 



Preliminary conditioning. 



Elementary education in the aids. 



Leading the young horse to take 

 place in the ranks of the mo- 

 bilized troop. 



Object: Preliminary pre- 

 paration for possible use 

 in case of mobilization _ 



/. — Preliminary conditioning. 



Making the stomach. Progressively leading the colt 

 to assimilate the Government ration (watching the drop- 

 pings; mashes, gruels, carrots). Making muscle. Pro- 

 gressive reasonable alternation of gaits. Particular infiu-, 

 ence of each. Usefulness of varied ground. 



Organization of groups and redivision of work. Long 

 slow walk. First lessons in independence and freedom. 



Leading over small obstacles. Horse skillful and bold. 

 Developing the lungs. The gallop; \yhen and how to com- 

 mence it. Considerations which rule this work. Race, 

 blood, ground. Riding hall on straight lines. Leading the 

 colt to gallop 1,500 to 2,000 yards (5 to 6 minutes). Aspect 

 of the horse in work. 



